Russia plans launch of GLONASS in 2015

June 05 2015

Izvestia

Iván Cheberko

The new generation “Glonass” series of satellites will be based on the Glonass-K1 apparatus. Source: Press photo

There have been several delays in the launch of GLONASS, the Russian Global Navigation Satellite System, which would work along with the Global Positioning System (GPS). However, operational issues have been resolved and the system is likely to be launched and enter into operation later this year.

The Russian Space Systems (RKS) company,
which has worked to promote GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System) in
international and domestic markets for space services, has resolved issues that
led to delays in the launch of the prestigious project.

Explaining the reasons for the delay Andrei
Tyulin, the head of RKS, said organizational as well as technical problems had
created delays. While carrying out the terms of reference, it was not possible to
incorporate all of the stated technical specifications.

“Now all of these technical problems have
been removed and network schedules and diagrams have been signed. We will have
concrete results coming in shortly, before this year is out,” said
Tyulin, indicatingthat GLONASS was likely to become operational this year.

Satellite navigation in Russia received
impetus for its development from the Ministry of Defence, with the first system
being developed specifically for the military.

When GLONASS enters into operation, the
primary user will be the Russian Defence Ministry. But analysts are concerned that
the “military” status of GLONASS will impede cooperation with foreign
suppliers, since the “Glonass” satellites are primarily equipped with imported
components.

“GLONASS is a dual purpose system,
and the question of who must be involved in its usage is certainly very
serious. Personally, I think that GLONASS must maintain its status as a dual
purpose system,” said Tyulin.

Atomic clocks

The new generation “Glonass” series of satellites
will be based on the Glonass-K1 apparatus. Problems with testing key elements
of the navigation satellite were detected in summer with the atomic clocks
produced by the Russian Institute of Radio-navigation and Time.

“The problems are being resolved,” stated
Tyulin. “Two Russian companies have already offered hydrogen frequency
standards of their own design for use in the satellites. We are ready to work
with them, but it will only be possible to talk about the use of any devices in
the GLONASS apparatuses after the producers prove the qualification of their
devices for the resource. They now show high accuracy and stability. It is now
necessary to test them for duration,” said Tyulin.

Competition with European giants

The idea of sending satellite construction
orders to the company Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems, which is in
alliance with the French-Italian company, Thales Alenia Space, is also being
discussed.

Tyulin, however, is against the idea.

“There is experience showing that the
monopolistic presence of a company on the Russian market is fraught with
consequences. Thales entered the Russian market as part of the Sukhoi Superjet
project and displaced all of the Russian manufactures. We are currently
applying all efforts to restore lost competencies and become a worthy
competitor to Thales in the Russian market. For us this is the number one task,”
Tyulin said.

Cooperation and sanctions

RKS has a joint enterprise with EADS
Astrium, which is Thales’s largest competitor in Europe.

Could this lead to a direct competition
between OJSC Russian Space Systems in partnership with EADS and JSC Reshetnev ISS
in partnership with Thales?

According to Tyulin, “Competition with the
company Thales, yes. But only in the area of onboard equipment,” he said. “The
manufacture of communications spacecraft is not within RKS’s sphere of
competencies,” Tyulin said.

Before relations with the West deteriorated
and they imposed anti-Russian sanctions, the Russian Defence Ministry was
preparing to buy a radio-electronic surveillance satellite system comprising five
spacecraft from one of the European companies. The contract was valued at 70
billion rubles, but it did not materialise.

"I am against such contracts," said
Tyulin. "There could be a repetition of the incident here like the one
with the Mistral ships."